Disclaimer: I don't own Gurren Lagann or any of it's characters, they belong to Gainax. No money has or will exchange hands and this was written for entertainment value only. Any original characters and storylines do belong to me.
Authors Note: This is still very much for Fyria and to all those who have been enjoying these stories so far. Kamina/Yoko with more Simon/Nia than the last chapter. There will be more of this universe at some point and I'd love to know what people reading this think of it.
One Thing at a Time
Chapter 2
It was finished, the decorating, the furniture and the blankets were all in order. The cot was of course the same one Kamina had made five years earlier for Yomi but he'd added a rocking chair and a new chest of draws for mother and baby. It wasn't as though there had been anything wrong with the others but he hadn't wanted their eldest to feel as though her things were being taken from her.
"Yoko was right to choose the blue after all." Simon told his brother as he entered the room, the fresh paint smell had thankfully all but faded from the pale blue room - apparently the only thing Yoko had been able to do was choose the colour. The light pine furniture and the plush carpet almost untouched and waiting for the new owner of the room to come home made them both nervous all over again.
"Half right I think you'll find." Kamina corrected him, unable to keep the grin from his face that had been there the past few days. His brother was tempted to believe that it would never leave.
"On a technicality or possibly even a misunderstanding." Simon was obviously trying to get a reaction but Kamina was too happy to care and simply shrugged, pushing his brother towards the hallway and out of the room.
"Doesn't matter." He then pulled the key from his pocket and sealed the room that had, for the past seven months been his secret project and had almost not been finished quite in time. Their new arrival had been two weeks earlier than planned and Simon, Nia and Mark who had been here to collect Yomi as she was going to be staying with them until the baby arrived had ended up settling in the house instead.
The two brothers headed down the stairs in relative silence, Kamina's thoughts on the other side of the Island in the hospital that stood there and Simon too amused by his behaviour to say anything. They took the car, Simon remembering to collect the baby seat on the way out of the house, blue ribbon tied around the handle and a gift label that needed to be written before they got there.
It was still early morning and the breeze from the ocean was fresh and cool, it was unlikely to get much hotter as the summer had only just started so it was pleasant enough for them to drive with the windows down and enjoy the weather.
"Thank you." Kamina eventually said, eyes fixed on the quiet road ahead.
"For what?" Simon looked surprised by the comment.
"You and Nia, for looking after Yomi and for sorting out the house… I know it wasn't exactly what you were expecting…." And he was grinning again.
Simon laughed. "Some how I think Nia is the one who'll be thanking you. She hasn't put the camera away since she got here and Mark has enjoyed the company too. She's been so happy to be a part of this, we both have."
Kamina just nodded and the rest of the short drive passed in silence.
Yoko was sleeping when they arrived, Simon choosing to join Nia and their son in the next room - no doubt to sort out the presents he knew they had been gathering fort he past few days, Simon had apparently had them mailed over early. Yomi was with them, wanting to spend all her time looking after Mark while his mother was busy it seemed. She had waved to her dad when he arrived but made no move to come with him. Kamina couldn't help but let that now small wave of relief wash over him again, she was as free and as happy as they had always wanted her to be.
Their little bundle was sleeping as soundly as his wife, blue hair in soft tufts visible as he crossed the room. He was tempted to reach out but changed his mind, he had learned sometimes it was better to let children sleep than wake them. He could still remember the glares from Yoko and her refusal to do anything about it when he had disturbed Yomi from her sleep when she was a baby.
"Morning." Her voice was soft and drowsy but her eyes were open and fixed on him.
He went to take the seat next to the bed but thought better of it, Yoko had been given one of the larger private rooms and thus a double bed. Despite this though he had returned home with Yomi every night for the past four days or her five day stay. The hospital had thought it best to keep a close watch on mother and baby because of the early delivery, Yoko had been so tired she hadn't missed his presence as much as she normally would. But she had be relieved to see him there this morning.
Yoko slid across the bed slowly and Kamina claimed the space, kicking off his shoes as he did so and he slipped his arm under his wife, kissing her hair as she leaned into him.
"How're you feeling?" He asked keeping his voice just above a whisper.
"Better… I just want to take her home with us." She smiled as she relaxed into him, eyes travelling to their new baby girl asleep across the room.
"Did you know?" He asked her.
"Know what?"
"When you chose the colour for the room?" He'd started massaging her shoulder feeling the muscles relax after days of bed rest.
Yoko was laughing softly. "I just had a feeling that was all." Kamina didn't say anything in reply, just seemed to nod against her hair. She sighed, something occurring to her that the past few days happiness had prevented from entering her mind. "Did you want a boy?" She asked very quietly.
He caught her mood instantly and tightened his hold on her as much as he could without hurting her, he also took her free hand in his, holding tightly.
"I never really minded, we always told the doctors we didn't want to know… Yomi had been a surprise so I wanted our next child to be." Yoko moved just enough so that she could look at him, her face caught the stubble on his cheek and she wondered when he had last shaved.
"How about now?"
Kamina smiled, not looking at her but looking at their sleeping child. "Still doesn't matter, she's heathy and Beautiful and has your eyes… she's just not what I expected."
"You know we have to name her at some point don't you?"
"Oh? I thought we had." Yoko looked confused but they were interrupted by their daughters shrill and sudden cry. Kamina was stood before Yoko said anything and was carefully leaning over the crib and scooping up the shrieking bundle.
He made hushing sounds as he carried her back to the bed and her mother, passing her gently into Yoko's arms before resuming his previous position. After a few moments being rocked gently in her mothers arms the little girl quietened and instead seemed happy to watch her parents, eyes looking between the two of them. Kamina held out his finger and smiled when she grabbed hold with her fist and gurgled.
"She's as strong as her sister."
"Yeah." His heart felt full, more so than he had ever really thought possible. His wife and now their two daughters… it seemed almost too much happiness but he only needed to feel for the scar across the back of his head to remember that things could have turned out so differently, the thought of not being here, the thought of his children never existing threatened to overwhelm him every time.
"What did you call her?" Yoko, odd as it sounded hand't given much thought to a name, she'd been too excited over the sex of the baby to give it much consideration, she figured it would just come to her like it had with Yomi but so far she hadn't thought of anything she liked.
"I didn't but Yomi has been calling her Kaira, Nia's started to do the same and although Simon hasn't said anything I can tell he agrees with them." His daughter finally released his finger, finding her blanket more enjoyable to take hold of.
"Kaira." Yoko tried the name out and had to admit it suited her, not that she felt as though she could change the name anyway… if Yomi had already been using it and Kamina seemed happy with it Yoko was pretty sure it would be unfair to give her another.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
"Yes." She leaned her head back to look him in the eyes. "Can we go home now? I'm getting a little bored of the hospital."
"Smile Yomi!" Nia called, taking perhaps the 300th picture since the start of their visit. She had appointed herself chief Yomi entertainer and so far it had worked wonderfully. The little girl had joined in all of her games and spent hours playing with Mark.
Nia took her picture and both mothers went to their children. Nia with her camera around her neck and Yoko a little shaky on her feet, although more due to the amount of time she'd been forced to spend in bed than the result of having Kaira.
Kamina wasn't too far behind her, picking Yomi up as she jumped to him as they followed their mother to the car.
"We'll see you back at the house." Simon told his brother, taking Nia's hand and leading them to their car on the opposite side of the car part.
"Sure, take your time." He called back, helping Yoko put Kaira into the baby seat.
Simon slipped the now sleeping Mark into his seat as Nia got herself sorted and it wasn't long before they were driving down the quiet roads of the Island. It was now late enough in the day for them to see the children playing on the beaches as they drove, families out to enjoy the summer weather. He'd chosen the opposite drive back to the house, knowing this way was longer and wanted some time alone with his wife, their sleeping son of course the only exception.
"You want to get out of the car and take a walk on the beach?" Simon asked as they drove.
"Sure." her voice rang through the car like a bell, like it always did.
He took the car down one of the popular paths to the beach, helping Nia out of the car which made her laugh as she took his arm.
"Should we bring Mark?" She asked, Boota answered for her by flying out of Simon's coat and landing on the little boys sleeping lap. He shook his head furiously and it was clear he'd be completely safe with him.
"Come on." Simon kissed her briefly, just letting his lips brush hers before he lead her on the first steps down to the sand.
Nia removed her shoes when the path became sand and laughed softly when Simon did the same after they'd taken several steps on the sand and it had worked it's way through his shoes and socks. She'd been free to watch him from the beach with the wind blowing her hair and her dress. The bags under her eyes had been fading as Mark slept at more regular hours but she had rarely lost her countenance in that time.
The times Nia had he would have given almost anything to get her light back to her but exhaustion and a wish to be with her son whenever he needed her had made her cry and he'd found her curled up on their bed sheets in uncontrollable fits of tears. There was nothing he could do beyond the normal reassurance that he could offer and he had called Yoko to finally lay his wife's fears to rest.
When Simon was close enough she reached out to grab his hand pulling him towards the shore so hard he almost lost his footing. The sand sprayed up across the beach along with the water, Nia hadn't bothered to tie up her dress and Simon didn't so much as have time to remove his jacket. He always forgot just how strong she was.
Nia didn't waste any time in scooping her hands as deep as she could in the shallow water and raining the salty water down on Simon. Her hair was already half soaked anyway so when he tried to counter her attack she simply ducked underneath the water.
Simon followed her, taking her in his arms under water and much to her surprise he kissed her, eyes wide underneath the water and hair surrounding them just for a moment they were children again, children who had yet to see the worst of the world or the universe and survive.
They hadn't suffered the trauma Kamina and Yoko had when their small family faced the universes destruction, they only had each other to fight for and they were certain, more sure than they ever had been that they were going to survive. They had heard since that the young woman chosen as the anti spiral messenger had passed away, unable to keep herself together after the destruction of her race… but it was a fate she had readily agreed to but even that, although traumatic had been expected.
It seemed to them both as they surfaces for air before diving back under that nothing had happened that they hadn't known how to deal with, hadn't coped with and survived. Nothing except starting their family and learning how to care for someone else.
Nia unzipped her dress sliding out of it, material always seemed so much heavier under water and she didn't want the extra weight, a light happy thankful mood had overcome her and she wanted to share it with Simon for as long as it lasted.
They threw their clothes on the shore and headed back into the warm water, happy that at least this part of the beach was secluded. Nia's underwear was a great deal more see-through than a costume would have been and Simon's, which had been bought by his wife, with mini sheep all over them were not something he wanted seen by the world.
If there was one thing that had stayed constant throughout it was her ability to surprise and astound him and Nia did it again that afternoon, all it took was a glance and a smile and she changed his world again. Just like she had the first time he'd opened the chest she slept in all those years ago,
He leaned in again, lips pressing against hers and arms winding around her as the current pushed them back to the shore one wave at a time.
Yomi had taken to being a big sister perhaps the first day she'd met Mark and seemed quite content to watch her baby sister through the bars along the outside of her cot. She was tucked in for the night and already fast asleep. Yoko, unwilling to spend anymore sat in bed was curled up on the sofa Kamina had also thought to include in the room with said husband. She was finally starting to relax and not quite willing to leave the room to head up to their own for a while yet. It would be the furthest she had been from Kaira since she was born but that wasn't exactly why. Having their entire family together in one room and so settled made everything feel complete.
Yomi was already in her pyjamas and ready for bed, Gurren Lagann plush toy on the floor next to her and her red hair gathered into low bunches. The sun was just starting to set and the beautiful evening light that came before dusk and twilight helped settle the mood amongst the whole family.
"How's Kaira doing?" Yoko asked her, voice drowsy and head firmly rested on Kamina's chest, his arms were around her, an act now significantly easier to accomplish since their daughter had been born.
"She's fine Mummy." The little girl turned to her parents."She's just sleeping." Yomi walked slowly across the floor, she loved the feel of new plush carpet between her toes and the way her feet sank into it just enough for it to be comfortable. Yomi knew this wouldn't last more than a few weeks so she was determined to enjoy it whilst she could, she also wondered if they'd get new carpets every time someone had a new baby. First Mark and now her own sister…. Yomi decided just to make sure they visited everyone they knew that had a baby.
"Are you ready for bed?"
She nodded and smiled at her dad. "But I can tuck myself in." She told them, reaching up to her parents and for a few moments being brought into their arms. She wriggled herself free, picked up her plush toy then headed to her own room, leaving bemused if happy parents.
"I love the room."
"Good." He thought about what he wanted to say next for a while, not entirely sure what her reaction would be but eventually he spoke, having settled on something to say. "You want me to carry you upstairs?"
She elbowed him. "You mean now I'm not as fat?"
"Did I say that?" Kamina had hold of her hands this time so that she couldn't attack his ribs again.
"You didn't have to." There really wasn't any animosity behind her reply and she didn't protest when Kamina slipped off of the Sofa and took her into his arms. He was gentle with her, leaving her to get ready for bed whilst checking on Yomi.
Yoko hadn't realised how much she'd missed her own bed, or how long it had been since she'd been this comfortable, the sheets were cool and soft and she could smell the light scent of the fabric softener, Nia must have washed them she realised. Kamina never bothered with anything but detergent.
Her eyes were lulling closed when Kamina climbed into bed, sliding over to her so she could rest against him. Yoko was asleep within moments but her husband wasn't really tired enough to join her and instead chose to run his fingers through her hair listening for any sign of their children stirring from their sleep and staring out through the skylight above him.